bike culture blogged

The high-pressure system has been sitting over Seattle for a while now. Sure there’s a burn ban and the air quality is “moderate”, but there’s nothing like a clear morning in the Pacific Northwest. Today, like every other day, was a great day for riding to work.

I was at a Peets last week in Portland and didn’t get my camera out in time to snap the cargo bike as it rolled past the window (I think the Peets customers were also alarmed that I jumped up so quickly to look at a bike). Todd had tipped me that box bikes were en route and now has the photos and more info.

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During a quick scroll of the 2007 bloggies, I noticed that Fat Cyclist was nominated for the Best-Kept Secret Weblog. Def vote for Fatty and hope he accepts the award in lycra, on a fixie, and puts it in a messenger bag!

And if you missed Fattie’s contest last week, the comments are still a good read. He gave away a Twin Six Jersey. I posted on Twin Six last year and unfortunately didn’t get to meet them in Vegas at Interbike.

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I found this music video of the Japanese hip-hop group Rip Slyme. The set-up is that group members are working in a bike shop. My Nihon-go isn’t good enough to understand what they are talking about, at least not on the first listen. And I’m not sure how many more times I can endure to listen. BUT music aside, almost all the props in the video are actually quality keirin components and featured prominently enough that I can identify the model. And really, it’s a welcome break from seeing every wannabe American popstar posing in an Escalade while lip-synching to some cheesewhiz manufactured song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86iUu-9qfIo

Shimano does a great job of pushing their top-level technology down to their lesser component groups. Cyclingnews.com just did a review of the 105 group, and I really have to second their praise. The 105 stuff works great on my rain bike. If I ever get around (read: get the funds) to building up a travel bike, I’ll probably spec it with Shimano 105. The only thing I can’t get past is the chainrings: What’s up with the cookie-cutter finish on those? The cranks themselves look fine to me, but the rings look a little cheap. Because I’m a vain SOB, I’d swap out for the FSAs and it would be a great looking setup.